1. Gallbladder and Bile Ducts
Chuan Lu
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
Taishan Medical University

2. Anatomy

4. Various Modalities in Biliary Imaging
MRCP CT
ERCP
Percutaneous transhepatic
cholangiography

5. Sagittal image of gallbladder

6. Gallbladder and Bile Ducts
Normal size of gallbladder:
7~9cm in length ;
3~4cm in width;
Wall thickness : 2~3mm
Normal size of bile ducts :
CBD:≥8mm =dilated
right /left intrahepatic duct just to proximal CHD: 2-3mm ；

7. Transverse image of the liver
right /left intrahepatic duct just to proximal CHD: 2-3mm ；

8. Common bile duct
CBD:≥8mm =dilated

9. MR
Magnetic resonance imaging is slightly superior to computed tomography in visualization of tumors. The recent addition of magnetic resonance cholangiography allows visualization of both dilated biliary ducts proximal to the tumor and normal-sized extrahepatic ducts distal to the level of occlusion.

10. MRCP
Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRCP) images obtained from the newest diagnostic equipment are comparable in quality to those obtained with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Ductal or intravenous injection of contrast medium is not necessary and the patient is not exposed to irradiation.

11. MRCP

12. The MRCP creates an enhanced MRI and may be adjusted to optimally visualize the biliary and pancreatic ducts.
MRCP显示胆系

13. MRCP
MRCP显示胆系

14. CT
Modern multidetector computed tomography is a new diagnostic imaging tool that allows multiplanar reformation.
CT cholangiography performed with 64-channel multidetector .CT scanners could provide much more information regarding the biliary tree and its abnormalities.

15. Imaging Techniques
CT scans were obtained on a 64–channel helical CT scanner with the following parameters:
0.5 seconds per rotation, 5-mm collimation, pitch of 0.984:1, and tube current of 120 kV per 300– 400 mAs.
Transverse mm-thick sections were reformatted into thin-section coronal images, maximum- intensity-projection (MIP) images, and volume- rendered (VR) images.
An intravenous drip infusion of 100 mL of meglumine iotroxate (Biliscopin; Schering, Berlin,Germany) is administered for 50 minutes as a biliary contrast agent 40–60 minutes prior to scanning. This biliary agent has been approved in some countries, including Japan, and has been used for tomographic cholangiography.

16. Anterior (a) and right superior (b) VR images
show the right posterior hepatic duct (arrow in a) draining into the left hepatic duct.

17. ERCP :Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography

18. ERCP, MR cholangiopancreatography, ultrasonography (US), and multidetector CT cholangiography each have their own advantages and disadvantages

19. Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Modalities in Biliary Imaging
Modality Advantages Disadvantages
ERCP Permits simultaneous biopsy or Invasive, may not be possible due to altered anatomy
Treatment following surgery
MRCP Noninvasive, no radiation exposure Prone to artifact, provides little functional information,
difficult to diagnose calcification, difficult to perform in
periampullary area
US Noninvasive, easily available, Operator dependent, poor demonstration of peripheral
no radiation exposure intrahepatic bile ducts, less consistent
Multidetector CT
cholangiography
Information regarding biliary Radiation exposure, side effects of the biliary agent,
kinetics and function available, limited in patients with poor hepatic function
high spatial resolution,
short scanning time

20. Cholecystolithiasis
Gallstone with shadowing: high-level intraluminal echoes+ acoustic shadowing(100%diagnostic)
Mobility of the stone by moving the patient during ultrasound scanning

21. Cholecystolithiasis
Gallstone with shadowing: high-level intraluminal echoes+ acoustic shadowing(100%diagnostic)
Mobility of the stone by moving the patient during ultrasound scanning

22. Cholecystolithiasis
Gallstone with shadowing: high-level intraluminal echoes+ acoustic shadowing(100%diagnostic)
Mobility of the stone by moving the patient during ultrasound scanning

23. Cholecystolithiasis
Gallstone with shadowing: high-level intraluminal echoes+ acoustic shadowing(100%diagnostic)
Mobility of the stone by moving the patient during ultrasound scanning

24. Cholecystolithiasis

25. Sludge
Nonshadowing echogenic homogenerous mass shifting position slowly

26. False-negative US (5%):
contracted GB,
GB in anomalous/unusual location
small gallstone
gallstone impacted in GB neck/cystic duct, immobile patient
obese patient
extensive RUQ bowel gas

29. Cholangiolithiasis
Stones may develop in the gallbladder and then reflux into the biliary tree to cause focal dilatation of a segment of the biliary tree
Stone visualization in 13-77%(more readily with CBD dilatation+good visibility of pancreatic head)
Dilatation of CBD
Acoustic shadowing
No stone in gallbladder(11%)

30. Cholangiolithiasis
Stone visualization in 13-77%(more readily with CBD dilatation + good visibility of pancreatic head)
Dilatation of CBD
Acoustic shadowing

31. Cholangiolithiasis 2
Stone visualization with CBD dilatation

32. Acute cholecystitis Wall thickening (over 3mm) and irregularity
Hazy delineation of gallbladder wall
Focal tenderness over gallbladder (sonographic Murphy’s sign)
Cholelithiasis

33. Acute cholecystitis
Coarse nonshadowing nondependent echodensities= slouged necrotic mucosa/sluge/pus/clotted blood within gallbladder
“halo sign” =GB wall lucency =3 layered configuration with sonolucent middle layer(edema)
Crescent-shaped anechoic pericholecystic fluid
Gallbladder hydrops=distension with AP diameter >5cm

34. Chronic Cholecystitis
Gallbladder stones
Smooth /irregular GB wall thickening
(mean of 5mm)
Mean volume of 42ml

35. Chronic Cholecystitis
Gallbladder stones
Smooth /irregular GB wall thickening (mean of 5mm)
Mean volume of 42ml

36. Gallbladder polyp Polypoid / fungating intraluminal mass
with wide base

37. Polypoid / fungating intraluminal mass with wide base

38. Gallbladder Carcinoma
Associated with:
Disorder of gallbladder:
Cholelithiasis in 64-98%
Gallbladder carcinoma occurs in only 1% of all patients with gallstones!
Porcelain gallbladder (in 4-60%): prevalence of gallbladder carcinoma in 11-22% of autopsies
Chronic cholecystitis
Gallbladder polyp: a polyp >2 cm is likely malignant!
Disorder of bile ducts:
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
Congenital biliary anomalies: cystic dilatation of biliary tree, choledochal cyst, anomalous junction of pancreaticobiliary ducts, low insertion of cystic duct
Inflammatory bowel disease (predominantly ulcerative colitis, less common in Crohn disease)
Familial polyposis coli

39. Histo: diffusely infiltrating lesion (68%),
intraluminal polypoid growth (32%)
(a) adenocarcinoma (76%):
(b) rare epithelial cell types:
(c) nonepithelial cell types (2%): carcinoid, carcinosarcoma, basal cell carcinoma, lymphoma

40. Location
fundus (60%),
body (30%),
neck (10%)

41. Growth types: replacement of gallbladder by mass (37-70%)
focal /diffuse irregular asymmetric thickening wall(15-47%)
intraluminal polypoid /fungating intraluminal mass with wide base(14-25%）

42. Growth types: dilatation of biliary tree (38 %):
pericholecystic infiltration: in 76% focal, in 24% diffuse
dilatation of biliary tree (38 %):
infiltrative tumor growth along cystic duct
lymph node enlargement causing biliary obstruction
intraductal tumor spread
fine granular/punctate flecks of calcification (mucinous adenocarcinoma)
lymph node enlargement in porta hepatis

43. US:
gallbladder replaced by mass with irregular margins + heterogeneous echotexture (= tumor necrosis)
immobile intraluminal well-defined round/oval mass

44. Replacement of gallbladder by mass
(gallbladder replaced by mass with irregular margins + heterogeneous echotexture (= tumor necrosis)

45. immobile intraluminal well-defined round/oval mass

46. Focal asymmetric irregular thickening of GB wall

47. Cholangiocarcinoma: extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma= bile duct carcinnoma
Growth pattern:
Obstructive type :U/V-shaped obstruction with nipple ,rattail, smooth/ irregular termination
Stenotic type: strictured rigid lumen with irregular margin+ prestenotic dilatation
Polypoid/ papillary type : intraluminal filling defect with irregular margins

48. A.Extrahepatic tumor(Klatskin’s tumor -tumor located in the hepatic duct bifurcation)
B. intrahepatic tumor resulting in biliary duct dilation.

49. US
Transabdominal ultrasound is a totally painless, non-invasive procedure. The test does not require special preparation, although it is technically easier in patients with at least six hours of fasting. Transabdominal ultrasound is usually recommended as the first imaging modality for the investigation of patients with suspected cholangiocarcinoma.
In hilar cholangiocarcinoma, ultrasound demonstrates bilateral dilation of intrahepatic ducts, and right and left hepatic ducts.
In rare cases, the tumor itself can be visualized as either a hypoechoic (decreased echodensity) or hyperechoic (increased echodensity) rounded mass located just distal to dilated biliary ducts.

50. Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma may be suspected if abdominal ultrasound demonstrates local dilation of intrahepatic ducts or isolated dilation of the biliary tree inside one lobe of the liver.
In both peripheral and hilar cholangiocarcinoma, biliary ducts distal to the obstruction (common hepatic duct and common bile duct) are not dilated. In patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma and complete obstruction of both right and left hepatic ducts, extrahepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder appear empty (collapsed) because there is no bile flow out of the liver.
In patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma, ultrasound demonstrates dilated intra- and extrahepatic ducts along with significant dilation of the gallbladder. Peripherally located tumors cause segmental or lobular obstruction of the biliary tree. Bile flow from the rest of the liver is preserved.
Extrahepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder appear normal (filled with bile) in patients with peripheral cholangiocarcinoma.

51. Obstructive type : U/V-shaped obstruction with nipple ,rattail, smooth/ irregular termination Mass within/surrounding the ducts at point of obstruction

52. Obstructive type
the tumor itself can be visualized as either a hypoechoic (decreased echodensity) or hyperechoic (increased echodensity) rounded mass located just distal to dilated biliary ducts.

53. Stenotic type: strictured rigid lumen with irregular margin+ prestenotic dilatation

54. Dilated intrahepatic bile ducts
In patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma, ultrasound demonstrates dilated intra- and extrahepatic ducts along with significant dilation of the gallbladder. Peripherally located tumors cause segmental or lobular obstruction of the biliary tree. Bile flow from the rest of the liver is preserved

55. Dilated intrahepatic bile ducts
In patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma, ultrasound demonstrates dilated intra- and extrahepatic ducts along with significant dilation of the gallbladder. Peripherally located tumors cause segmental or lobular obstruction of the biliary tree. Bile flow from the rest of the liver is preserved

56. In patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma, ultrasound demonstrates dilated intra- and extrahepatic ducts along with significant dilation of the gallbladder. Peripherally located tumors cause segmental or lobular obstruction of the biliary tree. Bile flow from the rest of the liver is preserved

57. Thank You